California wildfire grows to 2,000 acres, destroys four homes

LOWER LAKE, Calif., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A wildfire in northern California doubled in size since it started Saturday night, forcing evacuations and destroying at least four homes, fire officials said Sunday.

The fire, called the Clayton Fire, grew to 2,000 acres along Highway 29 in Lake County by early Sunday and was just 5 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The cause was not immediately known.

Firefighters are attempting to prevent the fire from reaching Lower Lake, which is where the Valley Fire hit last year.

A total of 500 firefighters from state and local teams are working to contain the fire. From the air, three tankers and four helicopters are being used.

Homes in the area remain threatened and an evacuation center was set up in Clearlake.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake was closed and evacuated Sunday due to the advancing flames.

"All patients are being transferred to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake will remain closed until further notice," the hospital said in a statement.

Ambulances from other parts of the county were called to transport the 16 or 17 patients to Sutter Lakeside Hospital because local resources have been stretched too thin.

Because of drought and dry landscape in the state, firefighters are dealing with several wildfires.

Farther south, firefighters continued to fight the largest fire in the state this year: the 72,566-acre Soberanes Fire along the Big Sur coast. Containment was at 60 percent Sunday morning, Cal Fire said.

#ClaytonFire. [update] south of Lower Lake (Lake County) is now 600 acres and 15% contained. https://t.co/HkmjMdAKyR pic.twitter.com/G9KK8GNkI2

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 14, 2016